Method of packaging a plurality of flat articles, and a package formed thereby



Jam. 28, 1964 R. H. PRATT METHOD oF PACKAGING A PLURALITY 0F FLAT ARTICLES. AND A PACKAGE FORMED THEREBY Filed March 22. 1961 max.-

I zu /g INVENTOR.l ROBERT H. PRATT ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,119,495 METHD @F PACKAGENG A PLURALHY GF FLAT ARTlCLES, AND A PAQKAGE FRMED THEREBY Robert H. Pratt, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Pratt Manufacturing Corp., Miiwaukee, Wis., a corporation ot' llaisconsin Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,553 S Claims. (Cl. 286-56) rl`his invention relates to an impro-ved method of packaging a plurality of hat articles, and a package formed thereby.

In the packaging of sterile surgical articles such as Sponges, gauze pads, dressings, or the like, the articles are Iusually packaged with two or more in a single package, and it is an important objective that -they be packaged in such a manner that they can be removed for use one at a time, and without the Iholder of the package having `to touch and contaminate either the item being remo-ved or the other articles in the package. Hereto-fore various typ-es of packages have been devised in an eifort to accomplish these objectives, as for example the packages disclosed in my issued Patent No. 2,968,396 and `in my copending application Serial No, 820,646, tiled lune 16, 1959, now Patent No. 2,997,166, issued August 22, 1961. ln such packages the Sponges or other articles therein are arranged in superimposed relation and the packages are designed with separable marginal sections or folds, one accommodating the lower edge of one sponge and the other fold section accommodating the lower edge of the other sponge, thus permitting a nurse or surgeon to ordinarily remove one sponge with a forceps while manually clamping the exterior of the other fold section to prevent the Withdrawal of the sponge 'Cn-.erein Even with such packages, however, it has been found that the upper, unseparated portions of the superimposed Sponges Sometimes stick together making it diflicult to grasp and withdraw one without lirst separating the same by means of a forceps, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

With the above in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide `a novel method of packaging two or more Sponges or similar relatively flat articles whereby the easy and sanitary removal of said articles one at a time is ensured.

A more Speciiic object of the present invention is to provide a method of packaging a plurality of surgical Sponges or the like wherein said Sponges are arranged in novel ofset condition within the package, in contrast to the superimposed registering arrangement heretofore employed, the offset relationship of said Sponges permitting the user to readily engage the projecting end of one of said Sponges, and to remove said sponge from the package, while manually clampingly retaining the other within said package, the invention being particularly suitable for use with gauze articles which tend to maintain a predetermined position in a package because of the nterclinging nature of the material.

With the above in View, the invention consists of the improved method of packaging surgical Sponges, gauze pads, dressings, and similar relatively iiat articles, and a package formed thereby, and all of the parts, combinations and steps as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the use of the novel packaging method comprising the present invention in several different types of surgical packages, and wherein the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. l is a plan view of one form of surgical pack- .'lldhS Patented dan. 23, 1964 ice 2 age With parts thereof broken away to show the arrangement of the articles therein;

PEG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the package of FIG. l, taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FlG. 2 but showing the package in an open condition;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another type of Surgical package, with parts thereof broken away to show the arrangement of the articles therein;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FG. 6 is a plan view of Still another type of surgical package, parts thereof being broken away to show the arrangement of the articles therein;

FG. 7 is a horizontal sectional View taken along line '7 7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the package of FiGS. 6 and 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, illustrated therein are three forms of surgical packages in which the packaging method comprising the present invention may be employed. lt is to be understood, however, that the illustrated packages are merely examples of many package styles in which the present invention can be utilized and the invention is not limited to use only in the specific packages shown.

In the package illustrated in FlGS. l, 2 and 3, a single sheet lil of white sulphite or similar conventional packaging paper is folded on lines ll and l2 (FlG. 2) to form a bottom panel i3 and top panels t4 and l5. Said top panels are designed to overlap each other and the smaller panel lil is folded on a line 16, spaced from its tree edge to form a flap l? which is reversely folded to project in the same direction as and projecting outwardly beyond an overlapping edge ot a flap portion i3 of the cooperating top panel l5. Said flaps 17 and 3 8 are joined together by a line of adhesive lil inwardly of their edges, the outer portions ot said ilaps being free of adhesive to permit the flap lil to be easily grasped and pulled to open the package.

The other edges 2li and 22 of the package (the top and bottom edges of FiG. l) are suitably sealed such as by drug folds 2i and 23, respectively, thus providing a sealed package adapted to maintain its contents in a sterile condition. To open the package it is merely necessary for the user to grasp the top panel ap iti and pull the same upwardly, such pulling breaking the adhesive at 19 and opening the side folds 2l and 23 and thus causing the package to assume the open condition illustrated in FlG. 3.

Heretofore, kas mentioned, the Sponges or other articles to be packaged have been superimposed with all edges in regis-tration with each other. This may result in the surgeon or nurse inadvertently grasping and removing both of said `articles Simultaneously, or else it necessitates the tedious separation of said articles with -a forceps prior to their removal. `In the present invention, the Sponges 24 md 25 are pressed together in the package in an oiiset or staggered condition, the lower sponge 24 being mounted adjacent one side edge lll of the package and the other sponge 25 being mounted inwardly of said edge. As a result, `as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, when a user grasps the exterior of the package near the edge 11 he will clampingly retain only the lower Sponge 24 and the upper sponge 25 is not only free of his grip, but the outer, projecting end 25 of said upper Sponge may be readily gripped with a forceps or the like and said sponge easily withdrawn from the package. The remaining sponge 24, which is clampingly retained in the package as described, is protected from contact with the users fingers by the packaging material `and is kept in a sanitary condi-tion until it is to be used. The invention makes use of the tendency of gauze or the like to cling to like material when two items are lightly pressed together during packaging. This tendency maintains the oifset position until the packages are ready for use.

In the `form of package shown in FiGS. 4 and 5, all of the pants corresponding to FlGS. 1 through 3 are indicated by the same numerals preceded by the digit 1. ln this item there are so-called drug folds 312i, 23 and 26 on three sides of the package and a single fold line 1211. Such a package does not have a tearing flap such as the flap 13 of FlG. 1, Iand opening of the package is accomplished by tearing along interfolded edges such as along the edges E21 and 126 so that a corner of the upper panel may be turned back on an oblique line to expose the articles. As will be seen in the drawing, the Sponges 124 and E25, or other contents of the package, may also be mounted in an oset or staggered relation within a package of this type, lthus permitting their removal one at a time in the same manner as in the package of FIGS. 1 3. The staggering may be on at least one edge as shown or on two adjacent edges.

FIGS. 6, 7 and S show still another form of package with which the present invention may ybe used, all of the parts corresponding to those in FIGS. l through 3 being indicated by the same numerals preceded by the digit 2. In this package two separate sections or compartments are provided for the contents (Sponges 23d, 235 and 236, and 234', 235' and 236'). in such a package the sheet 21) is folded over on the line 220 (the top longitudinal edge in FIG. 6), and the lower edges are provided with extensions which are folded inwardly and upwardly on the lines 227 and 228' as in my copending application Serial No. 820,646, liled lune 16, 1959, to form infolded ilaps 22'7 and 22S which are bonded ltogether by adhesive 229 inwardly of the edge of the package, thereby forming a pleat having unadhered portions between which the users thumb maybe inserted to rip the package open. As will be seen in PIG. 7, the flaps 22'7 and 228 extend the entire length of the package to define separate article compartments, and the side edges of said package are interfolded and sealed as at 23h and 231 to form a completely sealed unit.

In the package of FIGS. 6 8, the Sponges 234, 235 and 236, and 234', 235' and 236', are arranged in a laterally offset manner, one set in each package compartment. As is clear from FIG. 6, one sponge 234 is positioned with an edge adjacent the end 211i of the package, the next sponge 235 is offset inwardly therefrom, and a third sponge 236 is offset still `further inwardly, with an edge terminating adjacent the opposite side edge 212 of the package. The Sponges in the other compartment (234', 235' tand 236') are similarly offset or staggered.

To open the package the user merely' inserts his thumb into the space or pleat between the fold sections 227 and 223 and pulls upwardly to break 4the bond 229 between said sections, such pulling simultaneously breaking open the inter-folded side edges 23) and 231. The two sides of the package are then opened out into alinement and the offset Sponges in both compartments are then exposed. To remove the sponge 236 the user manually grasps the package inwardly from the side edge 230 a sufficient distance to clampingly retain both the Sponges 234 and 235 within the package, said sponge 236 being free of the users grip and its outer, projecting end being readily engageable by `a `forceps or the like. When the next sponge 235 is to be removed the user grasps the package closer to the edge 230, thereby clampingly retaining only the sponge 234- -and freeing said sponge 235 for withdrawal. The Sponges 234', 235' and 236' in the other compartment can be removed in the same manner.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be seen that the present .invention provides a method of packaging a plurality of surgical Sponges or similiar articles wherein said articles are not arranged in superimposed relationship as in conventional surgical packages, but wherein said articles are carried in an offset or staggered relationship which permits the same to lbefeasily engaged and removed one at a time. i

As hereinabove mentioned, it is -to -be understood that the surgical packages illustrated and described herein are merely examples of package styles in which the novel article arrangement characterizing the present invention can be utilized, and -the invention is not limited to use in the specihc package types shown.

What i claim is:

1. A method of packaging a pair of hat articles, comprising, loosely placing a rst unprotected article of material which clings to like material on a sheet of wrapping material, placing a second like article in contact with said first article in an offset relationship thereto with an edge of one article projecting beyond a corresponding edge of another article, and folding said wrapping material about said offset articles to form a package having at least on sealed edge, at least one of the projecting edges being suciently close to said sealed edge of the package that it may be grasped and held while in the package independently of the other article by means of a thumb and forefnger gripping opposite sides of the package adjacent said sealed edge with the projecting edge of the article protected therebetween.

2. A method of packaging a pair of hat articles, comprising, loosely placing a first unprotected article of material which clings to like material on a sheet of wrapping material, placing a second like article in contact with said rst article in an offset relationship thereto with an edge of one article projecting beyond a corresponding edge of another article, disposing the articles in suciently close superimposed unprotected relationship that the material of one article clings directly to the material of the other article to hold said offset relationship, and folding said wrapping material about said offset articles to form a package having at least one sealed edge, at least one of the projecting edges being suiciently close to the edge of the package that it may grasped and held while in the package independently of the other article by means of a thumb and forenger gripping opposite sides of the package adjacent said sealed edge with the projecting edge of the article protected therebetween.

3. In a package having a bottom panel of wrapping material with opposite edges, a first flat article of material which clings to like material loosely positioned directly on said bottom panel with a projecting edge of the article close to one edge of the panel, a second flat article of like material in clinging relationship directly on said first article and having an edge spaced inwardly of said bottom panel edge, said second article being oiset with relation to said rst article and having a portion extending beyond a corresponding portion of the first article to facilitate separate removal when the package is opened, and a top panel folded from said bottom panel and closing the package at all edges whereby said projecting edge of the rst article may be gripped independently of the second article by the thumb and forefnger with said projecting article edge protected by top and bottom panel portions.

4. In a package having a bottom paper panel with opposite edges, a first flat article of gauze material which clings to like material loosely positioned directly on said bottom panel with a projecting edge of the article close to one edge of the panel, a second flat article of gauze material in clinging relationship directly on said rst article and having an edge spaced inwardly of said bottom panel edge, said second article being offset with relation to said first article and having a portion extending beyond a corresponding portion of the rst article to facilitate separate removal when the package is opened, and a top paper panel connected to the edges of said bottom panel and having a portion pullable to expose otlset portions of the articles whereby the projecting edge of said rst gauze article may be gripped independently of the second gauze article by the thumb and forenger with said projecting article edge protected by top and bottom panel portions.

5. A package comprising a rear panel of paper having top, bottom and side edges and having a flap folded from said bottom edge on a flap fold line; a plurality of relatively at unwrapped articles all of Which must be maintained sterile loosely positioned in interclinging laterally offset relation on said panel and having a loose portion near an edge overlapped by said flap; a front panel hingedly connected to the top edge of said rear panel and having a flap folded on a second flap fold line to superimposed position; a plurality of relatively flat unwrapped articles all of which must be maintained sterile loosely positioned in interclinging laterally offset relation on said front panel and one having a loose portion near an edge overlapped by said front panel ap, said front panel, articles and front flap being in superimposed position on said rear panel and on its articles land tlap; means including adhesive on the juxtaposed faces of said two flaps spaced inwardly of the ap fold lines and inwardly of the adjacent edges of the articles securing said flaps together while allowing a finger insertion space between the flaps and outwardly of the adhesive to facilitate opening; and means beyond the side edges of said articles sealing the side edges of the front and rear panels together, each flap protecting a plurality of overlapped sterile article portions both during and after opening of the package and providing for retention of articles in the lingers between the flaps and panels while allowing easy withdrawal of other articles for use independently and independently of the panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,302,726 Vazov Nov. 24, 1942 2,320,143 Johnson May 25, 1943 2,810,243 Mellowes Oct. 22, 1957 2,946,164 Potts et al. July 26, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,027,844 Germany Apr. 10, 1958 

5. A PACKAGE COMPRISING A REAR PANEL OF PAPER HAVING TOP, BOTTOM AND SIDE EDGES AND HAVING A FLAP FOLDED FROM SAID BOTTOM EDGE ON A FLAP FOLD LINE; A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY FLAT UNWRAPPED ARTICLES ALL OF WHICH MUST BE MAINTAINED STERILE LOOSELY POSITIONED IN INTERCLINGING LATERALLY OFFSET RELATION ON SAID PANEL AND HAVING A LOOSE PORTION NEAR AN EDGE OVERLAPPED BY SAID FLAP; A FRONT PANEL HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE TOP EDGE OF SAID REAR PANEL AND HAVING A FLAP FOLDED ON A SECOND FLAP FOLD LINE TO SUPERIMPOSED POSITION; A PLURALITY OF RELATIVELY FLAT UNWRAPPED ARTICLES ALL OF WHICH MUST BE MAINTAINED STERILE LOOSELY POSITIONED IN INTERCLINGIGN LATERALLY OFFSET RELATION ON SAID FRONT PANEL AND ONE HAVING A LOOSE PORTION NEAR AN EDGE OVERLAPPED BY SAID FRONT PANEL FLAP, SAID FRONT PANEL, ARTICLES AND FRONT FLAP BEING IN SUPERIMPOSED POSITION ON SAID REAR PANEL AND ON ITS ARTICLES AND FLAP; MEANS INCLUDING ADHESIVE ON THE JUXTAPOSED FACES OF SAID TWO FLAPS SPACED INWARDLY OF THE FLAP FOLD LINES AND INWARDLY OF THE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE ARTICLES SECURING SAID FLAPS TOGETHER WHILE ALLOWING A FINGER INSERTION SPACE BETWEEN THE FLAPS AND OUTWARDLY OF THE ADHESIVE TO FACILITATE OPENING; AND MEANS BEYOND THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID ARTICLES SEALING THE SIDE EDGES OF THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS TOGETHER, EACH FLAP PROTECTING A PLURALITY OF OVERLAPPED STERILE ARTICLE PORTIONS BOTH DURING AND AFTER OPENING OF THE PACKAGE AND PROVIDING FOR RETENTION OF ARTICLES IN THE FINGERS BETWEEN THE FLAPS AND PANELS WHILE ALLOWING EASY WITHDRAWAL OF OTHER ARTICLES FOR USE INDEPENDENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY OF THE PANELS. 